Welcome Back...

Back when I was a child growing up in the late 70's, there were a variety of game shows to choose to watch on TV during the day. Here in this area, two that stood out were paired together everynight. They were the Barry / Enright pair also known as "Tic Tac Dough" and "Joker's Wild".

Of the two, Tic Tac Dough stood out amongst the two. By the end of the second season, a record breaking performance would be well underway that would carry over to the next season. Game show fans will immediately recognize this performance belonging to Thom McGee. During his lengthy stay on the show, McGee reset nearly every game show record at the time. His winnings records would finally fall with the advent of the million dollar prize shows of the late 90's and his longevity records fell during Ken Jenning's run on Jeopardy a few years ago.

After no less than a five year gap (before my cable operator picked up the channel), GSN has finally returned Tic Tac Dough to its daytime schedule. In the eastern time zone, you can watch the show at 11:30 am (during the second half hour of CBS's "The Price is Right".

Yesterday's run started with the second season premiere. Host Wink Martindale welcomed back the returning champion Peter (who could pass as a young Harry Anderson) who waited all summer to play the bonus game. After being presented with what he could win (including a trip to Morocco), he started picking numbers. The second number he chose was the dreaded dragon. Game over - meet the next contestant.

Peter's next opponent was a rather attractive home-maker named Phyllis. The game didn't last very long as Phyllis made quick mince-meat out of Peter. She got her first crack at the bonus game being offered the same package as Peter only minutes ago. Phyllis chose numbers along the diagonal and earned the $1000 she neaded to get the package. When Martindale asked about where the dragon was hidden, we learned that the dragon was hidden on number 2 - the same spot where Peter fell only minutes earlier.

Today, the show picks up with Phyllis in a tough battle with a newly promoted (30 years ago) LA cop. And hopefully by spring, we get to met that previously mentioned Lieutanant in the Navy who broke so many game show records.